Bail for possessing explosive material

James Mistruzzi

Mar 15th 2008, 07:27

Tony Montebello's suggestion might sound simple, but sometimes the simplest solution to a complicated issue is the best. Also, does anyone else find a difference between fireworks and petards? Personally, I do not put petards in the same category as firewords. I enjoy a good firewords show, but I would certainly support a ban on petards.

Tonio Montebello

Mar 14th 2008, 19:08

Another aspect that a lot of people simply fail to notice is that people who own properties (including fields) which are situated near fireworks factories, are unable to enjoy their property with their families simply because of the danger posed by such factories. Do we need to have a fireworks factory for every village festa? can't we have one main firewworks factory situated in a quarry which then "sells" firework to the village festas? Each sale would have to be documented so whoever can keep a count of what is being purchased and used. Do we need to blast explosions for a whole week during the particular village festa to attart tourists?? come one! do the people who explode the petards during the village festa have any respect for others? How many times fireworks continue after 11:00 pm?

JOHN SCERRI

Mar 14th 2008, 18:19

A person accused of possession of drugs is usually not granted bail while a person accused of possession of explosives is granted bail . ?????

Patrick Beacom

Mar 14th 2008, 18:08

Tourists do enjoy our fireworks, as do many Maltese. But I can assure you, they hate the loud petards that bombard us at every festa. Petards have no beauty and cause much distress to young children, the elderly and sick, to tourists trying to relax on holiday, as well as terrorizing animals – apart from adding to the noise pollution this island already has to suffer. The only people who seem to enjoy petards are the festa diehards, who are not concerned by the sensitivities of others. If Mr Vella has seen firework displays abroad, he will know they can be just as beautiful as ours, but are much quieter as they do not fire petards. To ban all fireworks in Malta is too extreme, but many people – including the tourists - would gladly welcome the banning of petards. Malta’s festas would lose none of their “beauty” without them. Could people reading this please comment on whether they at least agree to a total ban on petards? As for the “beautiful” fireworks, their strictly enforced regulation cannot be delayed any longer. Allowing firework factories to exist so close to our towns is almost as irresponsible as storing them in residential garages. Do we really need to await more deaths before proper action is finally taken?

Joseph Aquilina

Mar 14th 2008, 17:13

The people in question are not free to go! They will still have a trial and will spend time in prison if found guilty. All the material they had in their possessions has been confiscated since that material will most probably be used as evidence against them!

Martin Polidano

Mar 14th 2008, 17:00

In no way justifying the illegal activity going .. HOWEVER similar to the allowances given to all criminals storing lira at home, a cooling-off period should be given to the fireworks people to encourage them to get their acts clean.

This is the only way to start afresh!!

Jonathan Cassar

Mar 14th 2008, 16:56

We don't need to get hysterical!!! What should we do? Lynch the guy like they do in Pakistan or Sudan? If the man is found guilty he'll be punished as stipulated by our laws.
It's the government all you out there who we should be condemning. They are to blame. Didn't they purposely and blantantly defy safety standards in Tal-Ballal, Just not to irritate a few B'kara people? The same people writing hysterically about this man are then hysterically writing in support of Gonzi and his ministers, and how honest and hard working they are. And these same people close an eye to abuse, just for a few votes. And I'm mentioning PN just because they happen to be in government. I'm sure MLP would do the same.

Stephen Zammit

Mar 14th 2008, 16:08

My question is simple ….how can one only be accused of possessing explosive substances. I believe that there should be more accusations such as attempted Man slaughter, let me explain as when keeping explosive substances in a residential inhabitance you are condemning innocent families to their deaths. This is not a question of a child playing with fireworks because he doesn’t understand the consequence of his action.
Certainly this man knew or understood the devastation that explosives have!
I might be radical in my comments but in my books this is a case of attempted Man slaughter. I am not seeking vengeance but justice, however if it was my family that died because of somebody that is making money out of breaking laws! Would I seek justice?,
I don’t know? And nobody can answer that except for the victims.

Daniel Vella

Mar 14th 2008, 15:52

Since when are we able to judge everyone on the same level? How can we say stop to fireworks when most of the tourists come to our country in summer to see our village festas and obviously the fireworks? Weren't we all happy to see that Malta is the World Champion in fireworks? I fully agree that this is not the matter of banning fireworks but to stop the illegality of it!

Andrew L Vella

Mar 14th 2008, 15:41

I am not sure whether this man is directly linked to storing the 1000 pieces removed from nearby garages. For the sake of my sanity and sense of citizenship, I am going to try convince myself that it is connected to another story, perhaps the one with the Naxxar farmhouse near the old trade fair grounds. I choose this, knowing it is probably in denial of reality, but if this is really the case, then I am convinced that this should be a top priority for government - the tough regulation and monitoring of the firework sector. It is not simply the producers who must be held accountable but also those purchasing the beloved 'murtali' so that we create a system whereby every single piece of this 'explosive material' is monitored from pre-production till lift-off. On another note, I heard that the 'murtali' were thrown in the sea - I am really not sure about this since it is based on hearsay. Just in case it is a fact, I would have suggested that the police sell them in a legitimate manner to festa organisers. They would still buy such materials from somewhere else...so might as well use the confiscated material and sell it, creating a small fund for the families affected by this disaster. If every one of these 1000 'murtali' is usually sold for around Lm50 (€116), then i leave the maths up to you ...

V.DEGUARA

Mar 14th 2008, 15:23

Can the CIVIL PROTECTION unit ( or whatever it is) take a positive stance, in the sense that, it does not react after a tragedy but foresees that such tragedies do not uccur in the first place? How? It's up to them ( C.P.) to see how....All we need is protection BEFORE ( as the term implies )NOT AFTER.

Lawrence Camilleri

Mar 14th 2008, 15:20

Once he is innocent until proved guilty why had he to make a deposit and put up a personal guarantee to enjoy his fundamental human rights?

Olaf D. Wortocs

Mar 14th 2008, 15:12

Whether we form part of the European Union or not is immaterial. The principle that one is innocent until proven otherwise has been part of our established legal criminal doctrine, long before the EU was ever dreamt of.

Secondly, there is no fundamental right to bail! The institution of bail was created in the beginning of the last century in the UK in order to solve over crowding problems in prisons by eliminating those awaiting judgment and by placing conditions, restrictions and guarantees, still coercing the accused to appear before the judicial authorities to answer to the criminal charges.

On the other hand, the fundamental right to the liberty of the individual as guaranteed by our Constitution and the European Convention of Human Rights (again, ratified by Malta long before we joined the EU) is limited, as are many other fundamental freedoms and civil liberties, in the interests of public order.

Finally, if the accused are found guilty as charged, then they cannot be sentenced to merely a few months imprisonment. I cannot imagine what mitigating circumstances may be conjured up in order to diminish the accused's responsibility in this case. This does not mean that they must be found guilty, but clearly, it seems to me, from this vantage point, to be one where the accused are either totally guilty or completely innocent.

Andrew Borg-Cardona

Mar 14th 2008, 15:11

The outrage at the crime is understandable, but in a civilised country, innocence is presumed until guilt is proved. Bail is a right granted in confirmation of the presumption of innocence. We are either a civilised country or we are not, and everyone rushing to judgement without a trial is demonstrating a fundamental lack of understanding of the legal process: just because the Police arrest someone doesn't necessarily mean he's guilty.

Of course, if guilt is eventually established, I hope the guilty party goes to jail for life, but somehow I doubt this will happen. This is the shocking aspect of the matter.

N. Psaila

Mar 14th 2008, 15:10

How about arresting whoever supplied the explosives?
...surely they are responsible to check out whoever wants to purchase such dangerous material!

Corinne Vella

Mar 14th 2008, 14:37

What happened to the explosive substances? Are they still in the Naxxar garage?

Joseph Aquilina

Mar 14th 2008, 14:30

Bail does not mean he is free to go - he will still have to pass a trial and if found guilty he will be sent to prison! However I agree that the laws should be harsher, I am sure these two made much more money than that with their illegal activity!

Ruth MIZZI

Mar 14th 2008, 14:29

BAIL?!?! ... I just hope, that the newly appointed Minister for Justice would indeed do something about it - and about high time too!

Angelo Vassallo

Mar 14th 2008, 14:22

I can fully sympathize and understand the anger and disappointment of your readers on hearing that the man accused of possessing illegal explosive substances on March 12 in his garage in Naxxar pleaded not guilty and was actually granted bail.

But please remember that we live in a country which is part of the European Union, where we profess that one is innocent until proven guilty. This is also one of our fundamental human rights.

What I am really worried about is that, if and only if, this person is eventually found guilty, he may get away with a few months imprisonment. If this happens, than I would say that our laws need to be amended to reflect the seriousness of the whole matter.

Darren Lee

Mar 14th 2008, 14:04

The Maltese authorities have got to send out a consistent and strong message that blatant disregard for people's safety will not be tolerated.

S. Fenech

Mar 14th 2008, 13:26

With more than 1000 pieces allegedy found, he was bailed for less than €5 per piece not to mention the loss of life and damages from the whole saga.

M. Depasquale

Mar 14th 2008, 13:25

Is this just? Change the laws NOW!

Joseph Aquilina

Mar 14th 2008, 13:23

The fact that he said he's not guilty does not mean he's not going to be prosecuted. They still will have a trail, and if found guilty they will still go to prison!

julian mompalao de piro

Mar 14th 2008, 13:17

That's it! Ban all fireworks. End of story.

Keith Grech

Mar 14th 2008, 12:38

The law courts have to go through the process stated by law.Pressure should be made on the branches of the executive and judicial systems to proceed in an expedient manner so justice is done in an expedient manner. As Maltese we are seeking justice and not vengeance.

LFalzon

Mar 14th 2008, 12:31

This is ridiculous!!!